Driving mechanism



May 14, 1935.

R. A. WALTER 2,001,228 DRIVING MECHANISM Original Filed May 6, 1931 unf A 11.111... un" u. wr', ,i

[NVE/VTOR.

BY i www Mmm ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRIVING MECHANISM Raymond A..Walter, New York, N. Y., Bertha Baer Walter, executrix of said Raymond A. Walter, deceased, assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 6, 1931, Serial No. 535,522 Renewed October 3, 1934 6 Claims. (Cl. 'I4-40) 'I'his invention relates in general to devices for A still further object of this invention is to proimparting reciprocating motion, and more parvide a driving mechanism for a reciprocating ticularly has reference to a driving mechanism conveyor having a driving lever projecting for shaker conveyors. through a housing therefor with provision for In driving reciprocating conveyors, it is de- Sealing the housing against the entrance of for- A5 sirable for the eincient operation of the same, to eign material. impart a forward stroke gradually accelerated A still further object of this invention is to profor substantially two-thirds its length, and rapidvide o driving mechanism .comprising a. rocking ly decelerated for the remainder of its length; lever, a drivinglevel, Connecting aIInS and DinS 10 and a back stroke correspondingly, but reversely, for pivoting the driving levers t0 the Connecting 10 rapidly accelerated for substantially one-third its rInS, and for fulerllnling the driving and rooklength and graduauy decelerated for the remaining levers to a housing, in which the pins are held der of the stroke. This th'eory of the operation in Place by the Side Walls 0f the housing for enof reciprocating conveyors is fully set forth in my closing the mechanism. Patent No. 1,804,577, With these and other objects in view, which l5 My present invention comprehends a mechamay be incident to my improvements, the invennism adapted to impart reciprocating motion of tion consists in the parts and combination to be this character for driving shaker conveyors. The hereinafter Set' forth and Claimed With the 11nmechanism which I provide in performing this derstanding that theseveral necessary elements operation is of simpler construction than has comprising my invention may be, varied in con- 20 heretofore been achieved for imparting such mostruction, proportions and arrangement Without tion, and in addition possesses certain inherent departing from the Spirit and Scope 0f the apadvantages to be hereinafter more fully de- Pended C19-imsi. scribed, not present in similar devices heretofore In Order t0 make my invention more Clearly providedl understood, I have shown'in the accompanying 25 An object of this invention is to provide a drivd ra'wng means for carrying the Same inte Dreeing mechanism for a reciprocating conveyor of tical eiect without limiting the improvements simple construction in their useful applications to the particular con- Another Object of this invention is to provide structions which, for the purpose of explanation, a driving mechanism for a reciprocating com have been made the .subJect of illustration. veyor comprising a rotating crank arm, a rock- .In the drawmg formmg'a' part of thls mven' ing lever and a driving lever joined by connectnon.: ing rods in such relation as to produce acceleratthFlgure lfls a1; tollvlew of the mechanism Wlth 85 ed and retarded backward and forward strokes of gllr 2oirs letogugvgv Imdrvmg lever 35 glocatmg motlon for' dnvmg a' Shaker con' showing the aperture in the housing cover for Still another object of this invention is to proadmlttmg the same m plan' Figure 3 is a side view of the mechanism showv1de a driving mechanism for a rec1procat1ng conin th e h sin 1 40 veyor comprising a rotating crank arm, a rockg ou g and p ns connectmg the element t in plan. 40

mg lever, and a drivmg level' joined n Such a re' Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing a lation as to produce accelerated and retarded graph of the motion imparted by the mechanism of forward and backward strokes of reciprocating Figures 5l 6, and 7 are diagrammatic Views of motion; in which the rocking lever is formed in a the operative elements of the mechanism, shownovel manner to provide for the accomplishment ing the relative positions of the same during the 45 of forward ad backward strokes of reciprocating operation thereof to impart accelerated and remotion imparted by the driving lever, in exactly tarded forward and backward strokesof recipthe same time interval. Y roeeting motion- A further object of this invention is to pro- Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the operavide a driving mechanism for a reciprocating tive elements of the mechanism, similar to Fig- 50 conveyor, constructed to allow the transfer of conure 7, except that a less eiiicient type of rocking veyor stresses and strains directly on the bottom arm is substituted for that shown in Figure 7 of a frame enclosing the same, permitting a housfor the purpose of illustrating the advantages reing therefor to be constructed of lighter matesulting in the use of my novel rocking lever.

rial than has heretofore been susceptible of use. Referring more particularly by numerals to the drawing andl more especially .to Figure 1,

' it will be seen that my mechanism comprises a housing I, formed with integral longitudinally extending partitions 2 and 3. The housing is further formed with integral flanges 4 along the side edges adjacent the bottom. Flanged members 5 and 6 are mounted across the bottom of the housing at the ends, extending over on each side thereof. The members 5 and 6 are adapted to act as flexible bed plates for mounting of the housing on the iioor of a working, through extension members fitting in depressions provided therein, between the top surfaces of the flanged members and the roof of a working in the manner shown in my Patent No. 1,804,578.

One lside wall of the housing is formed with a split bearing for receiving a drive shaft 8. coupled to any suitable prime mover, such as an electric motor capable of imparting motion thereto at a comparatively high speed. A small pinion 9 is keyed on the end of the shaft 8 within the casing, fitting between the wall of the casing and the longitudinal partition 2. The pinion 9 is adapted to mesh with a pinion II also mounted between the wall of the casing and the longitudinal partition 2, carried on a shaft I2 journaled in aligned bearing boxes I3 and I4 fitted in slots provided in the longitudinal partitions 2 and 3 of the housing. A small pinion I5 is keyed on the shaft I2 intermediate the bearing boxes I3 and I4.

The pinion I5 is adapted to mesh with a pinion I6 also mounted between the longitudinal partitions 2 and 3, carried on a shaft I1. The ends of the shaft I1 are journaled in aligned bearing boxes I8 and I9, also fitted in slots provided in the partitions 2 and 3 like the bearing boxes I3 and I4.

, the driving lever.

The gear train formed by the pinions 9, I I, I5 and I6, are adapted to reduce the speed of rotation of the shaft 8 to practical limits for transfer to a crank arm 2|, fixed on the end of the shaft I1. The crank arm 2| is adapted to be connected to the tops of rocking levers 22 and 23 through a connecting rod 24. The connecting rod 24 is pivoted on a wrist pin 25, carried on the crank arm, and a pin 26 extending between the tops of the rocking levers, respectively. It is to be particularly noted that the rocking levers 22 and 23 are angularly formed.

The bottoms of the rocking levers are pivoted on a pin 21, journaled in aligned bearings provided in the wall of the housing and the longitudinal partition 3 formed therein.

The rocking levers 22 and 23 are adapted to be connected to a driving lever 28 through arms 29 and 3|, pivoted on a pin 32 carried between the rocking levers 22 and 23 and a pin 33 fixed on The driving lever 28 is pivoted on a pin 30, having the ends anchored in one wall of the casing and the partition 29 therein, adjacent the bottom, in the same plane with the pin 21 fulcruming the rocking levers. Strains on the mechanism are thus directed to the bottom of the housing and taken up by the flexible bed plates 5 and 6.

The driving lever 28 is formed with an extension 34. provided with an aperture 35 for connection to a reciprocating conveyor unit to drive the same. The top of the driving lever is cylindrically formed and provided with a face piece 36. A cover 31, as shown in Figure 2 is adapted to be tted on the top of the housing containing the foregoing interconnected elements. The cover is formed to accommodate portions of the elements projecting above the rim of the housing and with a longitudinal aperture 38 to admit the extension 34. The portion of the housing cover 31 adjacent the face piece 36 is correspondingly formed to permit the extension 34 on the driving 'and translated into a reciprocating motion by operation of the rocking levers 22 and 23 through connection of the wrist pin 25 on the cra'nk arm by the connecting or crank rod 24. The levers 22 and 23 rock back and forth by connection to the crank arm operating on the fulcrum journal or pin 21, anchored between one wall of the casing and the partition 3 adjacent the bottomsl thereof.

This motion is unsuitable for shaker conveyor operation, however, and is changed to an accelerated and Aretarded reciprocation by my novel changing means, comprising the connecting rods 29 and 3| and the driving lever 28, the latter rotating on the fulcrum journal or pin 30 in the same plane with the pin 21 fulcruming the rocking levers, adjacent the bottom of the housing I. The driving lever 28 is adapted to impart a desirable accelerated and retarded reciprocating motion by reason of the angular relation of the pins 32 and 33 on the rocking levers and the driving lever, respectively, on which the connecting rods 29 and 3| are pivoted with respect to the pins 21 and 30, fulcruming the rocking levers and the driving lever.

The motion imparted by the driving lever 28 is shown in graph on the diagram in Figure 4, indicating the relative velocities which may be attained at all points of a complete forward and backward stroke of the lever. All of the figures in the drawing show the mechanism in position for transporting material on a shaker conveyor to the right.

The figures in degrees on the graph inFigure 4 indicate the elapsed portion of the return stroke or rotation, 360 constituting a complete rotation or return stroke. The distance of the curve above or below the center lines 4| and 42 represent velocity per second in any convenient unit of measurement.

The forward stroke as indicated bythe line 43 begins at 4I and ends at 52, where the back stroke is begun, ending at 4| where the successive forward stroke begins.

It will be noted that the initial forward velocity begins at zero and gradually accelerates to reach its maximum beyond the two thirds point of the forward stroke, or 120 of a complete return stroke. The velocity is then rapidly retarded reaching zero at I and equally rapidly accelerated in a reverse direction to reach its peak near the 240 point, then gradually retarded to the end of the backward stroke. The reciproeating motion imparted by the driving lever 28 thus gradually accelerates for substantially two thirds the length of the forward stroke and rearwardly decelerates for the remainder of the stroke and rapidly accelerates for substantially one third of the backward stroke and gradually decelerates for the remainder of the stroke. There is thus achieved corresponding but reverse backward and forward strokes of accelerated and retarded reciprocating motion, de-

n win be noted that this motion varies de.

cidedly from the curve which would be generated by a simple crank motion.

In Figure 5 is shown in solid skeletonal lines the position of the motion changing means at the end of a forward or the beginning of a backward stroke. When the crank 2| is rotated through any short specified partial revolution or time interval 44, the motion changing means assumes a new position, as shown by the dotted lines. The travel of the conveyor connected to the drive is indicated by the numeral 45.

In Figure 6 is shown in solid skeletonal lines the position of the motion changing means at the end of the backward stroke. The partial revolution, or time interval, 46 is of exactly the same length as 44 in Figure 5. The dotted lines show the position of the various parts at just the same time interval before the end of the stroke, as the interval after the beginning of the back stroke indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 5. It is to be particularly noted, however, that the travel of the conveyor as indicated by the numeral 41, is much smaller. In a like manner, the motion changing means distorts the entire cycle of the regular crank motion to a series of velocities, as shown in graph in Figure 4.

In Figure 7 there is shown the position of the various parts of the motion changing means at both ends of the stroke, one end being shown in solid lines, the position for the other end being shown in dotted lines. It will be seen that a straight line drawnthrough the two positions of the Wrist pin 25 exactly subtends the two positions of the pin 26 on the rocking lever. This demonstrates that both forward and backward strokes are each made in 180 in the revolution of the crank 25, or in exactly the same time interval.

The angular formation of the rocking levers 22 and 23 will be appreciatedlin connection with this description of operation. In Figure 8 is shown a straight rocking lever 48. In the use of straight rocking levers, the pins 21; 32 and 26 are on a straight line. A straight line cannot be extended through both positions of the pin 26, however. As a. result, one stroke of the drive is necessarily made in less than 180 of the revolution of" the crank 2|. Accordingly, one stroke is made in less than the other, and the action of the conveyor is consequently jerky or bumpy, and not smooth and uniform as is obtained by the type of drive shown in Figure '1, in which the rocking levers 22 and 23 are angularly formed.

I attain the results enumerated by placing the pin 26, as shown in Figure 7, at an angle with respect to the pins 21 and 32, and secure the ac' celeration and retardation of conveyor motion as shown in the velocity curve in Figure 4. This is accomplished, as has been previously described, by arranging the various motion changing parts so that the angular relations between the pins 21, 32, 33 and 30, shall at both ends of the strokes be approximately as shown by the solid skeletonalH lines in Figures 5 and 6. Attention is to be directed to the fact that in each instance the lever with the more acute angle on lines 21, 32, 33 and 30, moves faster with relation to the other. As the rocking levers 22 and 23 must move at a fixed speed with relation to the crank 2|, the driving lever 28 is subjected to a wide range in velocity, as illustrated in the velocity curve in Figure 4.

In the assembly of my drive, the rocking levers 22 and 23, the driving lever 28 and connecting rods 29 and 3| are arranged so that the same may be loosely assembled outside of the housing on the pins 32 and 33. In this loosely assembled condition, the levers and rods may be lowered into the compartment formed by one .wall of the casing, and the integral partition 3, and-the pins 21 and 30 for fulcruming the rocking levers and the drive lever, respectively, inserted.

The foregoing assembly of parts is adapted tol t so closely between the wall of the partition and the casing that there will be but slight play of the pins 32 and 33, and thus the necessity for fastening means for the pins is eliminated.

When it is required to disassemble the drive, it is merely necessary to remove the pins 21 and 30, when the entire assembly may be lifted out of the housing and allowed to fall apart.

There is accomplished by this invention a driving mechanism of simple construction comprising fulcrumed rocking and driving levers joined by a connecting rod in such relation as to produce accelerated and retarded backward and forward strokes of reciprocating motion of the most emcient character for operating a shaker conveyor, the mechanism being of a novel assembly wherein the necessity of fastening devices for securing certain of the elements heretofore present in such structures, is eliminated.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A driving mechanism for a reciprocating conveyor, comprising a housing, a crank arm operating therein, and a pair of interconnected 1evers connected to the crank arm for imparting accelerated and retarded strokes of,reciprocating motion, said levers being fulcrumed adjacent the bottom of the housing.

2. A driving mechanism for a reciprocating conveyor, comprising a crank arm, a fulcrumed rocking lever, a driving lever fulcrumed on the same plane as the rocking lever, rods connecting the crank arm and levers together, the connection of the rod from the crank arm to the rocking lever being offset with respect to the fulcrum of the driving lever and the connection of the rod from the rocking lever to the driving lever.

3. A driving mechanism for a reciprocating conveyor, comprising a crank arm, a fulcrumed rocking lever, a fulcrumed driving lever, rods connecting the crank arm and levers together, the connection of. the rod from the crank arm to the rocking lever being offset with respect to the fulcrum of the driving lever and the connection of the rod from the rocking lever to the driving lever, and intermediate said connections.

4. A driving mechanism for a reciprocating conveyor including a crank arm, a connecting rod connected thereto at one of its ends, a rocking lever connected to the opposite end of said connecting rod and driven therefrom, another connecting rod connected to said rocking lever at a point spaced from its point of connection to said first mentioned connecting rod, another rocking lever, a connection between said connecting rod and one lever arm of said rocking lever, another lever arm on said rocking lever, said other lever arm comprising .a driving member for imparting corresponding but reverse accelerated and retarded backward and forward strokes of reciprocating motion to a conveyor trough.

5. A driving mechanism for a reciprocating conveyor comprising a source of rotary motion, means for translating the rotary motion into reciprocating motion comprising a crank, a connecting rod, a rocking lever driven thereby, a connecting rod connected thereto intermediate the ends of said rocking member and a fulcrumed member connected to and operated by said connecting rod for correspondingly but reversely accelerating and retarding the respective forward and backward strokes of reciprocating motion.

6. In a drive mechanism for reciprocating conveyors, a reciprocable driven member, means for reciprocating said driven member with correT sponding but reverse accelerated and retarded backward and forward strokes of reciprocating motion comprising a crank, a rocking memberx driven thereby, another rocking member, a connecting rod connecting one lever arm of said second-mentioned rocking member with said first mentioned rocking member, and another lever 10 arm of said second mentioned rocking member comprising said reciprocable driven member.

RAYMOND A. WALTER. 

